The risk assessment process typically involves four main steps: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Each step is essential for a comprehensive evaluation of potential risks.
Hazard Identification: This step involves determining whether a substance has the potential to cause harm to humans or the environment. It includes reviewing toxicological data and identifying adverse health effects linked to the chemical. Dose-Response Assessment: This involves establishing the relationship between the dose of a substance and the severity or probability of an adverse effect. It often requires extrapolating animal data to humans, considering differences in sensitivity. Exposure Assessment: This step estimates the magnitude, frequency, and duration of human exposure to a chemical. It considers various exposure pathways, such as inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. Risk Characterization: The final step integrates the information from the previous steps to estimate the potential health risks. It involves a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to describe the nature and likelihood of adverse effects.
